Back From The Game Thread.

[shurlock]

Performance like this was on the cards, though its hard to say whether we were sh*t or BC were any good. Disappointing that we didn't create that many chances -I count five or so- and we only forced James to make one save. Thought we would come out all guns blazing in the 2nd half, so their lucky goal came at a fantastic time. Saying that, had Fonte buried a ridiculously easy header just after they took the lead, the game might have turned out quite different.

 

I see on another thread that people are questioning Cork's performance - thought he was one of our better players today and easily our best midfielder - we generally got bossed by their three in the centre of the park. I'm more concerned about Hammond's performance, not least because its several games now that he's been sub-par. It seems that, philosophically, NA prefers a Cork/Schneiderlin pairing; but still bottles it when it comes to the crunch.

 

Bristol City reminded me of the Forest and Burnley game earlier this season - as our midfield is quite narrow, we struggle against genuine width, especially when the opposition's full backs are also bombing on. Its easy to knock Fox who was given a torrid time by Adomah in the 2nd half (IMO he's a better prospect than Maynard); but NA must also take responsibility for putting Lallana in the hole at the start of the second half and removing the one bit of protection Fox had. Its easy to understand why Adkins moved Lallana -obviously, he wanted more from us attacking-wise- but, ultimately, it left us more exposed on the flanks.

 

Also thought today exposed the danger of relying on the fullbacks for width (a massive feature of the way we set up). Obviously if they have their hands tied with defending or not skinned on the counter, there is less scope for them to get forward. In these games, we need genuine width -and the few times we got to the byline and SDR got the ball, we looked dangerous; at the very least, it was more dangerous than the elaborate, eye-of-the-needle stuff we were forced into playing down the middle.

 

Wouldn't agree that AL had a bad game per se - thought it was a bit chicken and egg, that Lallana tried to do much because others weren't stepping up. Finally, the loss of Chaplow was a massive blow - he is one player who can genuinely break from midfield and ghost into the box. With Hammond, Cork and Schneiderlin, it was all too predictable - and meant that their CBs could concentrate on defending Lambert and Guly (and their defense led by Fontaine was more than up to the task).

Edited 26 November, 2011 by shurlock

[SparkySaint]

How did Jose not score? That chance had to be on target. Blue line and all that. Barnard starting up front, Guly on the left with Schneiderlin and Cork in midfield. Back to winning ways

[Chez]

disappointing afternoon. We simply did not do enough when we had the ball and Bristol City looked a decent outfit that grew with confidence as the game went on. I suggested Adomah as an option a couple of years ago and he was the stand out player offering pace and trickery throughout. They were also solid at the back and strong in the tackle. We should have shown a bit more bite once it was obvious that the ref was going to allow a fair bit to go.

 

Focusing on us Cork was very sluggish in the first half (although he improved in the second) and the choice to bring on another centre midfielder when Chaplow got injured was a mistake for me. We looked pedestrian and with Lallana having a very bad day we offered nothing going forward. Guly and Lambert looked like statues.

 

I'm not too down as City were excellent. But the question is can we continue to win all our home games, because away from home we don't really look like a top of the table side.

 

Davis 5 one or two bad kick outs and one spill that could easily have gone in. He needs to sharpen up as his little mistakes have a knock on effect. Goals were not his fault in any way

Richardson 7 strong as usual and distribution decent in my eyes, but he just didn't get any top notch crosses in that we needed

Fonte 7 I thought he did reasonably well and marshalled Maynard pretty well. Both centre backs saw far too much of the ball as went backwards too often due to lack of movement in front of players

Jos 7 showed excellent pace right at the end when faced one on one with Adomah. That bodes well for the future. Great in the air at set peices

Fox 6 tough game with Adomah the shining light for City. I thought he wasn't too bad though. Got no help what so ever from Lallana

Lallana 3 tried to use all his tricks and flicks but none came off. If you don't do it going forward then people are going to look at your defensive attributes and workrate and they were not good enough today.

Cork 5 poor first half, improved in the second but not enough. City showed us how to pass out from the back

Hammond 6 I don't want to see him out wide and the sub meant we had three centre midfielders with whoever was out wide looking lost. We looked laboured in the middle

Morgan 6 again, didn't do enough in the first half and didn't create anything in the second. He can't play out wide. Adkins mistake.

Guly 4 showed good strength on the odd occasion, but far from his best and at times like a statue.

Lambert 4 also did little and beaten in the air by the fullback too often. Very little threat although movement was better in the second half.

de Ridder 7 we created one genuine opening and he should have scored from it, but he did quite well overall when he came on, but not world beating. Should have come on for Chaplow.

Barnard no space and didn't change anything. He's not top class IMO but unfair to point any fingers at him today.

[jasoneuelllfanclub]

At home we can get away with having an unorthodox midfield but away from home I would like to see us playing a bit more rigid. We are not good enough defensively to cope when flanks exposed. That said its not like any team has played us off the park. This is probably our 1st deserved defeat so the outlook is bright. I think we can expect sdr to start tues on right with morgan and cork in the middle.

[View From The Top]

There is no way that NA would bring SDR on after what? 10mins? MS was the obvious and correct decision but SDR should have replaced Hammond at 1/2 time.

[Papa Shango]

Didn't think we were that bad today, played some good stuff at times, but no question the best team won. Always going to have days like that, no biggie.

Written my thoughts/player ratings for my website, take a look here if you like: http://www.thesaintshub.com/bristolcity2-0saints.html

[Saints Warrior]

Saints have been lucky this season in 3-4 games and the Reading showed just how fast opponents are. I dont think we are a pacy , fast team we can play round the opponents but only have a few players with real pace and that mainly up front. We dont do well againts crowded midfields, although Reading, Brighton and Bristol are not title contenders they can beat the top teams which I think saints underestimate. 2 shots on target is not a threat, change the tactics and get the ball in the box and cut out the 15-23 pass move when it doesnt work. Saints to get back on track vs Hull but we need to get points from next 5 games

[Chez]

There is no way that NA would bring SDR on after what? 10mins? MS was the obvious and correct decision but SDR should have replaced Hammond at 1/2 time.

why not? He is a right midfielder. IMO Adkins does not trust him. He still can't get that first game when he didn't track back out of his head. Having three centre midfielders left us flat and with little threat. That was the difference in the two sides. They had an out ball in Adomah, we didn't.

[shurlock]

There is no way that NA would bring SDR on after what? 10mins? MS was the obvious and correct decision but SDR should have replaced Hammond at 1/2 time.

 

Agree- would have never brought him on for Chaplow.

[Sold To The Man @ The Bar]

Missed RC in midfield, they had a game plan not to let us get to the second ball. We were always going to get beatn: shame our scoring in every game has gone !!!

[LGTL]

I hate going to Bristol City, we never get anything down there. Their fans don't half get carried away though, all a bit embarrassing.

[Chez]

the one blessing is this might be a wake up call and we won't face this kind of sluggish display at Fratton Park.

[david in sweden]

Losing Chaplow was gutting, and the sub should have been De Ridder QUOTE]

 

 

.....that was my first thought whenI heard Chaplow was off.

De Ridder has that direct attacking style, whereas Schneiderlin doesn't have the same type of aggression at all...got that one wrong Nigel ...

[shurlock]

why not? He is a right midfielder. IMO Adkins does not trust him. He still can't get that first game when he didn't track back out of his head. Having three centre midfielders left us flat and with little threat. That was the difference in the two sides. They had an out ball in Adomah, we didn't.

 

That wasn't the difference IMO. They had five across the middle -and three in CM. Easy to understand NA's wish not to be overrun away from home after only 10 mins-and Morgan gave us a bit more coverage. For me, it was a waste that both Jos and Fonte had to mark Maynard.

[Jack]

Good performance from City. Gave us no time or space and their pace troubled us. Annoyingly a very good save from James was all he had to do. Good noise from the saints fans, very little from City till the last 10 minutes. A good **** up but a match to forget.

 

1 point from the 3 away games I've managed to get to this season. P*rtsmouth next to make it 4 from 4

[cellone]

Best thread every game. Thanks to those who take the time to report the game. The differences between posts give a well rounded view of the match. An asset to saints web.

[Graffito]

That wasn't the difference IMO. They had five across the middle -and three in CM. Easy to understand NA's wish not to be overrun away from home after only 10 mins-and Morgan gave us a bit more coverage. For me, it was a waste that both Jos and Fonte had to mark Maynard.

 

Wasn't there. My impression from the radio commentary was that we lost it in centre midfield where games tend to be won and lost. Was that so?

[kpturner]

I don't think there was any way NA would have brought on SDR for Chaplow that early in the game. To do so would have been to admit he had the setup wrong from the start. MS was his only option at that stage I think.

[gammon cheeks]

Albert Adomah, we were linked with him when he was at Barnet. Incredibly quick player, so direct - if not always with an end product. I've always liked him.

I thought he was man of the match.....Albert adomah is something we dont have and that is blinding pace down the wings . We should be looking at this guy in january and if we can get Maynard aswell it will give us a extra threat which we so obviously lacked today.

[Jack]

Don't think we lost the midfield battle, we just didn't do much with the ball when we had it. Lack of movement and sloppy passing. Got to give it to BC though, they worked extremely hard and closed us down quickly. When things weren't working we resorted to lumping it to Lambert, who couldn't make it stick, and we weren't winning the second ball.

 

Not blaming this for the defeat, but the ref was awful. Some strange decisions

[fanimal]

Lets face it the only way a team is ever going to beat us is when they get a huge slice of luck with both goals and a homer ref, simples.

 

Just knew it was not our day when Chaplow went down all on his own and Guly blocks a goal bound effort, then they score whilst most are still quueing for the so called facilities.Always felt if we had equalised -Jose- the we would have gone on to win they had no real control just looked to bang it out to the winger.

 

Will take a lose today for a deflected shot win at Nott Arf Krap.

[Seaford Saint]

Outplayed, out thought......very very poor today. Ref was crap, Bristol City deserved their win. Adomah was outstanding Fox had little or no protection.

[View From The Top]

why not? He is a right midfielder. IMO Adkins does not trust him. He still can't get that first game when he didn't track back out of his head. Having three centre midfielders left us flat and with little threat. That was the difference in the two sides. They had an out ball in Adomah, we didn't.

 

Because hindsight is a wonderful thing but after 10mins were we all crying out for changes? No, of course we weren't.

[S-Clarke]

I thought he was man of the match.....Albert adomah is something we dont have and that is blinding pace down the wings . We should be looking at this guy in january and if we can get Maynard aswell it will give us a extra threat which we so obviously lacked today.

 

TBF SDR is very quick, but we haven't seen enough of that.

 

I do agree with you though, I'm also of the opinion that we need a little more pace to get us in behind teams. That's why we really need a pacey forward IMO, we don't have that option in the squad at the moment.

[The Kraken]

I mean it can't be one of the world's best kept secrets that if you shut Lambert down,Guly is on an off day and Lallana isn't doing much we don't have anything up front.

 

You mean if you negate a side's top 3 attacking threats that they may struglle to score?

 

F*ck me, that's some insightful information there. It's a complete wonder we've scored any points at all considering we're so easy to work out.

[shurlock]

TBF SDR is very quick, but we haven't seen enough of that.

 

I do agree with you though, I'm also of the opinion that we need a little more pace to get us in behind teams. That's why we really need a pacey forward IMO, we don't have that option in the squad at the moment.

 

As I say, we've partly been able to offset the lack of pace with our fullbacks - but today, they had too much on their plate to get forward and as long as defending is their priority, they'll never give us true width or pacw.

[SNSUN]

Liam Fontaine. Was he any good? Worth another pop in January?

[NN2 Saint]

We managed to get on wrong train at Salisbury and were on train heading to Exeter got off at Tisbury and had to go back an hour later so dived into a pub there for an hr and didnt arrive in Bristol til 2ish. So knew we were gonna lose from then on. Only missed Ipswich away this season and that was easily the worst we have played, I dont really remember much about the game just think both sides were pretty poor but like most say if someone offered you top in late November you would take it so no real problems just make sure of the 3 points on Tuesday

[Sour Mash]

why not? He is a right midfielder. IMO Adkins does not trust him. He still can't get that first game when he didn't track back out of his head. Having three centre midfielders left us flat and with little threat. That was the difference in the two sides. They had an out ball in Adomah, we didn't.

I like De Ridder, he looks hungry and full of energy, but he takes 5 touches when one will do, his runs aren't always picked up by team mates and he's no good at all at tracking back.

[captainchris]

why not? He is a right midfielder. IMO Adkins does not trust him. He still can't get that first game when he didn't track back out of his head. Having three centre midfielders left us flat and with little threat. That was the difference in the two sides. They had an out ball in Adomah, we didn't.

 

This is a weakness in the squad as Steve cannot start - he's not good enough.......We are weak in numbers/quality in the squad this is the problem..

[captainchris]

Wasn't there. My impression from the radio commentary was that we lost it in centre midfield where games tend to be won and lost. Was that so?

 

Come on, it's not as simple as this...........We lost central midfield because we had no outlet and drive.........Although Guly is better up front we need a player out on right who can do the wide job and we bring on a central midfielder...........Three players in that area - all similar who don't stretch the opposition with Lung busting runs...........It's as simple as that......

[Chez]

Because hindsight is a wonderful thing but after 10mins were we all crying out for changes? No, of course we weren't.

no hindsight required, when Chaplow was taken off I wanted de Ridder and not Morgan. Even when we made a sub it was a striker off and a winger playing as a striker on. Another wrong decision IMO and I said as much when he made the sub.

[Chez]

I like De Ridder, he looks hungry and full of energy, but he takes 5 touches when one will do, his runs aren't always picked up by team mates and he's no good at all at tracking back.

you could say the same about Lallana in a lot of away games over the last three seasons, and especially today.

[Chez]

Liam Fontaine. Was he any good? Worth another pop in January?

strong and passing was decent.

[Graffito]

Come on, it's not as simple as this...........We lost central midfield because we had no outlet and drive.........Although Guly is better up front we need a player out on right who can do the wide job and we bring on a central midfielder...........Three players in that area - all similar who don't stretch the opposition with Lung busting runs...........It's as simple as that......

 

Steady on nipper, I'm asking a question of someone at the match who said they had 5 in midfield and 3 in the centre. I wasn't

making a statement. If you don't dominate the centre you don't get the ball to the wide players but clearly you were at the match

and I wasn't so your opinion that it was tactical error by Adkins and lack of impact in wide areas is an informed opinion.

[Chez]

Hammond and Cork looked slow and didn't make any second ball there's, they also didn't get close to their opponents to put enough pressure on them to turn the ball over to us (something Chaplow has being doing a lot), but I also agree with captainchris that having three centre mids none if which stretch opponents with off the ball runs like Chaplow does hurt us too.

[Kingsbridge Saint]

Good to read the observations from those there. Can forgive the odd away defeat so lets have a look again after the Hull game. Need to bounce back with a win, I feel.

[dubai_phil]

Wow

 

I am Shocked and Outraged. Something MUST be done!

 

What is this? a thread of meh we lost sort of expected it.

 

What a load of submissive dribble. I sure as hell hope NA & The Players don't react the same way.

 

We get beaten and play badly, the manager takes wrong tactical options and it's meh.

 

Look I'm all in favour of this Blue Line stuff but that ONLY works if you don't keep making the same mistakes. Merrington mentioned again in the short time I listened last night, changing shapes and formation is all very well but it allowed Brizzle to hurt us down the flanks.

 

Chaplow gets a knee injury early? That is really worrying as he had surgery while he was out suspended earlier in the season. How could we let the window close if he had a weakness there?

 

Not enough questioning, too many meh it was one of those days. Christ on a bike, I hope NA wasn't like that on the bus home and at training this week.

 

This ain't League One no more Toto, we cannot afford meh

[Ziggy Stardust]

City deserved the win. It seemed like they wanted it more. We could only get tickets in the home end as our allocation went so quickly. I had to register as my 73 year old mother - they were so lovely to me when I phoned the ticket office it made me feel quite guilty - but I digress. My point was that we sounded a bit subdued -I kept wanting to hear us loud and clear but I was disappointed. Was that because of where I was sitting or was the support quieter than usual? Interesting to see us from the home supporters perspective but not one I'd want to experience again. At least I didn't have to worry about celebrating a goal I guess!

[Tamesaint]

We were poor. In the end we were well beaten. We need a better display on tuesday.

 

BUT

 

Both of the Brizzle goals had massive deflections. I have just watched the City love in on the FL show and didn't realise how for the first goal Kelvin went one way and the ball was deflected the other. The second looped off Fonte and really could have gone anywhere. Just our luck on the day that it went into our goal.

 

Lets hope that this is the season's bad luck out of the way in one fell swoop. Without these deflections a 0-0 draw would not have been too bad considering how so few things came off for us today.

[thegaffer]

My son works with the West Ham first team as a perfomance analyst and he told me after West Ham played them that Adomah and Maynard would cause us problems.

QUOTE=kpturner;1195528]Adomah definitely tore us a new one right from the start. Never heard much about him before but Fox was given a lesson today. We never got going at all. Usually we have lots of options but today we just couldn't seem to string two passes together. I think you just have to put your hands up and admit that Bristol did a number on us, pure and simple. If Fonte had scored that sitter it might have been different but he put it a good yard wide from six yards.d

[The9]

My son works with the West Ham first team as a perfomance analyst and he told me after West Ham played them that Adomah and Maynard would cause us problems.

 

 

That sounds like an awesome job, what kind of qualifications and training do you need to get into that ? Sports Science degree ?

[thegaffer]

yes he is a massive Saints fan but got a degree in sports science and phychology and spent his placement year at Pompey who to be fair were really good to him and in his last year at Uni he was basically head hunted by West Ham to do the performance analyst roll with West Ham academy that was in July of this year and within 3 months he was promoted to number 2 performance analyst with the fiirst team and he travel with them. Tomorrow they fly up to Middlesboro by private jet. He loves it.

That sounds like an awesome job, what kind of qualifications and training do you need to get into that ? Sports Science degree ?

[The9]

yes he is a massive Saints fan but got a degree in sports science and phychology and spent his placement year at Pompey who to be fair were really good to him and in his last year at Uni he was basically head hunted by West Ham to do the performance analyst roll with West Ham academy that was in July of this year and within 3 months he was promoted to number 2 performance analyst with the fiirst team and he travel with them. Tomorrow they fly up to Middlesboro by private jet. He loves it.

 

Sports Science number 2 under Allardyce must be a hell of a gig, all credit to him.

[Professor]

Having just seen the Football League Show 'highlights' it seems the radio commentary on Solent and SaintsPlayer gave Saints too much credit. Bristol City seem to be streets ahead of them. Can't see City agreeing to sell Maynard having just invested in a new and very capable manager.

We must expect to lose some games but this is a reminder that the team is not good enough yet to storm into the Prem. Hard decision for Adkins because in January, if we are to make certain of promotion, it may be necessary to replace 2 or 3 people who are good players, with players who are technically even better.

[View From The Top]

no hindsight required, when Chaplow was taken off I wanted de Ridder and not Morgan. Even when we made a sub it was a striker off and a winger playing as a striker on. Another wrong decision IMO and I said as much when he made the sub.

 

Ah, I see, because you wanted him that was the right decision. Got yeah.

[Toomer]

Very bad day at the office lets just draw a line under it and move on.

[Chez]

Ah, I see, because you wanted him that was the right decision. Got it yeah.

the point is the wrong decision was made by Adkins and I thought so at the time, therefore hindsight wasn't required. Nothing to do with me wanting de Ridder, much more to do with us needing a midfielder to work them defensively. As we are top and performing beyond all expectations does that mean we can't question anything these days on here?

[torsaint]

Personally thought Fox had a nightmare in the second half. On two occasions he backed off over 10 yards and still couldn't stop Adomah who reminded me of AOC. Hope there aren't too many more fast tricky wingers around.

[Jack]

Having just seen the Football League Show 'highlights' it seems the radio commentary on Solent and SaintsPlayer gave Saints too much credit. Bristol City seem to be streets ahead of them. Can't see City agreeing to sell Maynard having just invested in a new and very capable manager.

We must expect to lose some games but this is a reminder that the team is not good enough yet to storm into the Prem. Hard decision for Adkins because in January, if we are to make certain of promotion, it may be necessary to replace 2 or 3 people who are good players, with players who are technically even better.

 

The FLS highlights were a joke. You think we didn't get on the ball at all or have any shots? We had 55% possession away from home but didn't do enough to make the number of opportunities we've got used to making